the melrose neighborhood pub

Photo by kungfoofool@flickr

Location 2535 Franklin Pike, Nashville TN, 37204
Hours Open daily 11am – 2am (food served until 1am)
http://www.themelrose.net

I’ve been on vacation from work for the past two weeks, and this week of my vacation I spent in Nashville. While in the past I would say my most visited bar in Nashville was Beyond The Edge, this trip most drinking time was spent at Melrose Neighborhood Pub.

I first went to Melrose on Wednesday night with my friends Kate and Chris. Kate and I had pregramed pretty hard before heading over there, so I can’t be positive but I’m pretty sure I ordered a Bud Light, which is pretty standard for me in a bar. The bartender, Cliff, was very nice and welcoming, making you feel like this is a bar you had been coming to for years.

The bar was pretty crowded for a Wednesday night, I’d venture to say even decently packed. The bar is long enough that there is plenty of room, enough room even for there to be three stools open for us to sit together. There are also a good amount of large booths against the wall as well as several high tops in the front and back. Plenty of seating. There is also a patio in the back if you feel like being outside, or like me, feel like smoking.

Now let’s get to the important part: the food. We all ordered food, and I was excited for my taste buds because this place boasts some of the best burgers in Nashville, all made with natural local beef. I ordered the Blue Cheese Burger (bacon, blue cheese crumbles, grilled onions) and waffle fries.

Food came out pretty quick, but let me tell you….it was worth it no matter how long we waited for it. It was truly the most amazing burger I have ever had in my life. The blue cheese crumbles were perfectly melted on the burger, it was juicy, the bacon was crisp…it was literally heaven on a bun. I’m not a huge fan of fries but the waffle fries were pretty run of the mill, made amazing by me drenching them in Tabasco sauce and then dipping them in the spinach dip that Chris had ordered, which was TO DIE FOR.

I got several more Bud Light drafts also sampled Chris’ White Russian, which was really good, and I was about to order my own but thankfully Kate ushered me out the door to head home. I’m pretty sure that White Russian would not have stayed down.

Thursday night I headed over there with Ian and George after dinner and drinks at Applebee’s. Thursday nights are Two-For-Ones starting at 4PM, so I wish we had arrived a little earlier – in the future I will be here promptly at 4 on Thursdays, as there are few things I love more than a good 2-4-1 night.

Other notable specials are Happy Hours Mon-Fri 4PM-7PM ($1 off apps, liquor, wine and beer), $2 domestic drafts on Saturdays, and $2 drafts all day on Sunday. They also have trivia on Tuesday where you can win up to $50.

They also have a brunch menu on the website, which looks AMAZING. Brunch is served Saturday & Sunday 10AM – 3PM and I’m really considering flying in next Friday evening to sample what must be a delicious treat in the AM.

I give Melrose a hearty 4 1/2 stars. One of my favorite bars that I’ve been to in Nashville. So if you’re ever in town, I’d definitely suggest stopping by here, if not for the friendly staff and great atmosphere, then for the burgers. Holy crap.

The Lemon Light Is Back For Real

But I think I’m going to do something a little different with this and just write reviews. Of movies, books, music, restaurants, TV, art, makeup, hotels….really anything that I find worth writing about. It will be like my own personal Yelp….only better. First review coming your way in a few minutes! ❤

Is this bad form?…

So, the last time I wrote, I entitled it “The Return Of The Lemon Light” as if I was going to start writing again after a 2 month haitus. Now I’ve been on an 8 month haitus….so my question is: is it bad form to make ANOTHER “Return Of The Lemon Light” post? I really do want to start writing again. There have been some crazy nights in the past 8 months that I haven’t even written about. There was a trip to Nashville in January. A trip to San Diego in February. Another trip to Nashville/Covington for Maifest (which had more than it’s share of write-able material), and countless funny nights out on the town here in Boston.

I’d really like to start writing again! Unfortunately, I’m not going to regale all these past stories that I missed out on. I’ll let it be a lesson to me that I should continue writing and not stop for long periods of time. Let’s keep this blog alive!!

I guess I’ll write about my most recent venture, just to kick this off with some fun.

Last Tuesday, Lauren and I decided to have a good old fashioned All Day Drunk Day. Unfortunately at 5PM, we still hadn’t even come close to venturing out, so it actually turned into a normal night of drinking. When we FINALLY emerged from our houses, we headed to the liquor store and got a bottle of Skyy Grape Vodka (yeah…shelling out the big bucks) and a six pack of beer and headed over to Spenser’s.

We had plans to head over to Ups and Downs but we wanted to pregame first. The main reason being that last time we went there we shelled out $60 between the 2 of us and left SOBER. Don’t ask me how, but we weren’t about to make that mistake again, so we played some games at Spensers, refilling our cups of Skyy and Sprite several times over. By the time we left the house, I was drunk.

Ups and Downs on and Tuesday isn’t that promising. Somehow this night ended up as a whirlwind though. Some girl was there with her boyfriend that I was convinced I went to middle school with (I didn’t), and she was OBSESSED with Lauren and I for some reason. So she kept buying us shots, and we kept buying her shots. Three or four or five or six shots of Grape Crush later, I was BLASTED.

What I remember is talking at length with this girl. About what, I don’t know. Her name was Nadia. I remember the following conversation:

Nadia: I think my Cosmo is really weak. Here, taste this.
Me: Okay! *takes sip of drink.*
Me: Wow, that is pretty weak. Chris! Can I get a Cosmo!

I also texted Crystal telling her I met a girl named MAFIA (I was referring to Nadia).

I also remember screaming into the ears of Lauren and Spenser at separate times, dead serious, lecturing them about SOMETHING, but I don’t remember anything I said.

I called Moises twice AND texted him (when he didn’t answer) in hopes to solve our problems. (Why does it always seem like the time to solve problems when you are at your least capable?)

Apparently, though I don’t really remember this, Spenser and Lauren claim I made out with some guy who was “much older, wearing plaid shorts with pulled up socks, was possibly not American, and looked weathered.” I remember I thought I saw Jon Gosseling of John and Kate Plus 8, and considering my judgment, this was possibly him.

And finally, I remember puking out the window of the car the entire drive on the highway. Next thing I know we are parked in front of Lauren’s house, I sit up to get out of the car, and I hurl all over her driveway.

I woke up the next morning in her bed, and I hadn’t puked anymore, thus not drowning in my own bile and dying. Which is always a plus after nights like that. 🙂

A week of drinking will do you good: the return of the lemon light

When I originally started writing this blog, it was on the tailwinds of the lifestyle I was leading, which involved a lot of drinking, a lot of boys, and a lot of good stories to tell. But what with dropping out of school, starting my new job, and pretty much having to grow up, I left that lifestyle behind and started living….well, a pretty boring life.

Finally, this week, when everyone comes home for Thanksgiving, my body got the alcohol it’s been craving 🙂

Wednesday afternoon, Lauren and I went to see Twilight (for the second time….) after which I ran home to quickly change, then headed over the Margaritaville to meet Katie D. and Jenna for a drink. I had a raspberry margarita, which is uncharacteristic of me, being that I don’t drink tequila. It was good though. I abandoned half my drink to make the hike down to Duxbury, where we drank for a bit at Katie H.’s house while discussing AIDS vs. diarrhea in a hot tub. Seriously. Katie, her roommate and I headed to a bar (Tommy D’s I think) and got buzzed there (I freaked out when a friend of Bridget’s said “Time Now,” because Afghani Mike used to say that all the time), then we headed to some kids REALLY nice house. He had two Westies and a Yorkie which made me happy. What made me unhappy was the plethora of 40-year-old men taking pictures and partying like they were 21, and the parrot that looked like he wanted to escape from his huge cage and rip our throats out. We left after one beer and called the night quits.

Thursday was Thanksgiving. Lots of turkey and stuffing. Loves it. I had to work that night but only for a few hours to it was okay.

Friday Jenna invited me out drinks with her friends from school, Zach and Scollins. Loved them both, they were both HILARIOUS. The three of them are all into improv so it was really funny hanging out with them. We had a few beers at the Venus then went back to Scollins really nice house (I’m frequently really nice houses lately) for some wine. They talked shop (read:improv) for awhile, and while I don’t know much about improv, I was so into the conversation! I wasn’t bored at all. Listen, that sounded sarcastic but it wasn’t. Jenna and I headed home after finishing out wine and realizing it was about 3AM. We found on the way home that Taco Bell was closed and we were PISSED. We also slid on a patch of ice and almost died. All in a nights work, huh?

Last night (Saturday), I worked until 9:30PM, then I took the T over to Fanueil Hall to meet the gang from high school for drinks at McFaddens. They had all started about 2 hours prior to me getting there, so I felt like I really need to catch up, especially since it was 10 by the time I got there and the last train home ran at 1. I started with a beer, then a vodka cranberry, then a chocolate cake shot, followed by another beer (insert cigarette break here, in which we run into a really cute guy from Newport Beach), then another chocolate cake shot and another beer. I think I sufficiently caught up. Krista walked in on some girl in the bathroom, so then I was scared to use the bathroom. When I finally went, lo and behold, someone walked in on me.

We got the T home, where I believe I was talking very loud, and I think we were all quite entertaining to the few other passengers in our subway car. When I got home I had a full plate of Thanksgiving dinner leftovers. Drunk meal.

In the end, I know I was drunk because of this text that I sent to Crystal: “I’m so drunk. Help me. I want to have a threesome wit pi party chris and the soulja boi. Can you make this happen? Write back. Love. Pony.” Which I wanted to be involved in a threesome with either of those people is beyond me. Why I signed the text “Pony” is also beyond me too.

Moral of the story is, a little drink does the body good. And Thanksgiving weekend is a good time to get that done.

the ponz’s guide to air travel

Photo by Flip Barrientos

Two weeks ago I officially began my career in the airline industry. Working at the ticket counter, I have already come across enough people experiencing travel faux pas that I feel inspired to write this blog, covering several helpful hints and guidelines for you to be aware of before you plan your next vacation. Knowing the facts will mean you can get to the airport later free of worries, and will minimize the risk of you missing your plane.

Check and double check your itinerary, even if you booked through a travel agency. They make mistakes! You have no idea how many people come in trying to check in for flights that left two days ago. They then think that because their travel agent messed up, not them, that they should not be charged. But you are responsible for knowing your reservation! You will be charged to change your flight because it was not the airlines fault.

Know the policies and fees associated with the airline you a flying. Do they charge for a second bag? For a first? How many pounds are considered overweight? What is allowed to be in your checked/carry-on luggage? What happens if you miss your flight? These are all things you should know before you arrive at the airport. My airline charges $50 for any bags over 50 pounds and I can’t tell you how many times I hear “FIFTY DOLLARS!?!? Are you KIDDING me?!” every day. I always let people try to take things out and rearrange so they can avoid the fee, but weighing your bag before you leave in the morning can expedite the entire situation.

You are not an exception no matter what your situation is. Although you are the customer and we want you to be happy, just because you are you does not mean we will magically waive the fee. Be prepared if you know you may have to pay a little extra.

Check in online if you are able to. Then your time at the airport is so much quicker. At my airline, we have a bag drop line, so if you check in online (or at the kiosk) and already have your boarding pass, we just check your ID, scan your boarding pass, take your bag and you’re done! Quick!

The airlines do not control the weather and no matter how much you yell at your ticket agent, if ATC tells us we aren’t flying, we aren’t flying! Do you really want your plane to hit turbulence and go down in a field in Iowa? We know how frustrating it is to have a delay, we’ve flown too! But there is literally NOTHING we can do about it.

We won’t hold the plane for you, sorry. I didn’t know this before I started working, but the airline is fined for every minute that the plane is late taking off that is their fault (not due to weather or ATC, etc). If you’re late, you’re late. If the jetbridge door is closed, it’s not opening for you. If that planes takes off late because of you, that throws off flights for the entire day.

We can’t boot someone from their aisle seat just becaue you want it. Seats are first come, first serve. We get that you may need to get up to pee 6 times during the flight, but that is something you have to work out with Mr. Aisle Seat Holder. If you have a middle, you have a middle. Someone has to sit there.

That’s all I can think of right now. If I think of any more I will let you know.

The Ponz

things that made me happy today

Photo by tiny_muffins

On my way to keep my mom company while she was babysitting my cousins, I stopped for ice cream at Peaceful Meadows. It was 9:50PM and they close at ten, so I felt like that jerk that shows up last minute wanting to order. Luckily, there was another jerk there.
Me and this guy stood at the window while at least 10 employees inside ignored us in hopes we would go away.
He turned around and asked me, “Are they closed?”
I reply, “I don’t know…I thought they were open until 10.”
He taps on the window, asks if they are open, and one of the girls reluctantly replies yes and takes his order. He gets his ice cream and walks away (so I thought).
I order my ice cream and as I’m about to pull money out of my wallet, a five dollar bill is thrown on the counter from behind me, and Guy says “I got hers.”
I smile and tell him he doesn’t have to do this, but he insists, a bit sheepishly and he buys my ice cream. I now am drumming up ways to dance around the inevitable asking of the number, but with a smile he says, “Enjoy your ice cream!” and walks back to his car.

It left me smiling for a good few minutes. I like nice people.

quote of the day

“The second kiss is always tougher than the first one…that first kiss, it’s the passionate one. It’s the one fueled by desire and attraction and all that. But the second kiss is rational. You’ve had time to think about it. Worry, and overanalyze. Most women, they prefer the first kiss – but I’m partial to the second one. Because it’s about something more.”
-Dawson’s Creek

the best of vogue’s fall fashion issue

A little known fact about me is that I read every issue of Vogue cover to cover. I mean, every word of every magazine. It’s filled with things I would never buy for lack of funds, and models I will never look like, and some styles that I would never wear. But the photographs are gorgeous and the writing is so well done, and it can’t be ignored that MOST of the styles and designers I do love and admire. It’s my favorite magazine in the world.

That being said, the Fall Fashion issue hit the stands a few days ago. The thing about this issue is that it’s about 800 pages and well over half of those pages are ads. Which can be a good thing, if you embrace them.

Anyway, I present to you, The Top 20 Designs Of The Fall, according to me, all of which can be found in the Fall Fashion issue of Vogue.

*Note: I’m no fashion expert, so if you want an expert opinion, go elsewhere. This list is based solely on asthetic pleasure experienced by moi.

Two-tone tights by Chanel They came out with a pair of two-tone tights that are white/nude in the front and black in the back with the Chanel symbol on the ankle, which are really cute, albeit reminiscent of Cruella DeVille. But what I’m really interested in are a pair out in the fall that are are solid black in front and a light print in the back – they are absolutely fabulous. Looks like they are going to be running in $230-$495 and will probably be available in Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf’s, and of course Chanel boutiques.

Burberry Ads I’m not the biggest fan of Burberry because frankly, I think it’s overdone and old. But their fall ad campaign is beautiful and makes me want to give them a second chance. The boy in the campaign, looking flawless in a trench, reminds me of Edward Cullen (warning: geeky Twilight reference) and makes me want to desperately be the girl in the campaign.

This dress by Versace It’s irrational how much I love this dress. I want it in my life, like now. First of all, I love yellow dresses, they are incredibly cute. Second, the style of the dress is completely original and awesome. And third, if you look closely (which is hard with the small picture I provided) the patterns are so intricate. The flowers are actually popping off the dress. The inside flaps are patterned with a suitcase style myriad of images. It’s a gorgeous and fun dress.

Talia Leather Jacket by Andrew Marc I love tight leather jackets with a side zip – they will never go out of style because they are so cool. What’s even more awesome about this jacket is that it has a thick raccoon fur collar that is absolutely gorgeous. Right now the jacket only comes in Merlot, but I’m hoping soon it will also come in black because THAT will be hott. Right now it’s going for $1095 and can be purchased via telephone from andrewmarc.com

BCBG Max Azria Dress Specifically the dress pictured in the very front of this ad, the darker one.  It looks like the most comfortable dress you could ever wear. It’s floor length, which means it would look like crap on my short stature, but if I were taller and thinner I would be saving up for it. The dipping neckline is awesome and is tied in with the loose tied belt at the waist. I usually don’t like the wrinkled look but it looks good in this case.

DKNY Purple Jacket Purple is my least favorite color and I would never dream of wearing anything that was purple. But then this coat came along. I love three quarter length coats because I think they are great for the fall and always look classy. I love that DKNY put a new twist on the same old style and made the jacket bright purple (it’s way brighter than in the picture). It’s bright, fun, and actually made me want to own something purple.

BOSS Black by Hugo Boss Jacket and Gloves This coat is a POWERHOUSE. My favorite part are the tight long sleeves underneath the faux short sleeves – so stylish and great. This coupled with the elbow length leather gloves would make any woman look like….well, – and I beg you to seriously excuse this pun – the boss. Check out the Fall Ad Campaign in the issue of Vogue to get an even better look at this coat.

Rock & Republic Fur Coat First of all, I love how risque this ad is, aside from the fact that I’m pretty sure they probably photo-shopped out her nipple. But anyway, this fur coat is not a want, it’s a NEED. I absolutely love it. It looks so snuggly and comfortable, and aside from that, how awesome would this be walking down the streets of New York with some gorgeous sunglasses and a pair of skinny jeans? Absolutely fabulous.

Tod’s Gold Pashmy Bag I’m pretty torn on this and I struggled to include it. Part of me think it’s the tackiest looking gold bag I have ever seen. I hate that it’s made out of nylon. But another part of me is so inexplicably attracted to it. It might be the number of pockets, or the fact that it’s huge, or that it’s shiny (I like shiny things). But I think it’s pretty hott. It’s going for $1100 and can be purchased at any Tod’s location.

Gold Skirt by Ralph Lauren There is one reason, and one reason only, why I love this skirt: if I were an eccentric billionaire, this is what I would wear around the house all day. Just to be obnoxiously overdressed. Obviously not for comfort because it looks like it would be quite itchy, which is probably why the model is wearing gloves. But the beading is very intricate and you gotta give props for that. So yes, this is my fantasy billionaire outfit of choice.

Eyewear by Dolce & Gabbana At the risk of sounding like Roseanne Barr (Summer Haus joke), I love these D&G glasses! They are emo glasses 2.0! If these were my glasses I would be so much more apt to go without contacts on a daily basis. The thick black frames are jazzed up with a row of crystals on the side and that’s just enough to make the glasses a little more awesome than your normal frames.

Stiletto Sandals by Aldo Mark my words when say I will not rest until I own these shoes. Unfortunately, you can’t get a very good look at them in this picture but it’s the only one I could find. But they have three thick straps with a buckle around the ankle, a high stiletto heel and an asymmetrical buckle on the peek toe. They’ve got a little bit of a dominatrix feel to them, making them even hotter.

Russian Sable Jacket by Dennis Basso Oh my GOD what an awesome jacket. I love that the sleeves are bracelet length and at first I didn’t like the belted middle but now I do. Such a fabulous jacket and it looks so comfortable! I just realized that this is the second fur coat I featured in this post, so allow me to brace myself for the PETA onslaught. Nevertheless, I have a sick desire to own this coat. It’s so beautiful. And so soft….(I can tell).

Black and White Balenciaga Dress Okay, I’m a bit biased because I love anything Balenciaga does. Hands down favorite designer. But while Balenciaga are known for the unique shapes utilised in the dresses and clothing, this dress is amazingly classic. This is my pick for classy evening outfit for the fall. I love the asymmetry and the shape of the dress and the simplicity of black and white. It’s beautiful.

Ashley Olsen’s Tux for the Row I love this! It is so simple yet classic. When I first saw Mary-Kate and Ashley’s designs when they were designing for tweens, I was disgusted because they were awful and I knew they had more in them than that. Then they came out with The Row which is MUCH more fashion savvy. The 3/4 length jacket is tight sleeved and the skirt is the perfect length. With a light American Apparel white tee underneath, it’s the perfect business casual outfit. Jacket ($1,950) and Skirt ($1,450) available at Maxfield in Los Angeles. (Sorry about the photo, I had to camera phone it!)

Sari Gueron Skirt This skirt is so adorable! It’s high waisted, short and full and so fun. I had to use my camera phone again and it completely does not do it any justice. But it’s pea green with white polka dots, and coupled with a white tank and heels, it makes the most adorable outfit ever.

PVC Leggings from Express These are SEXUAL. I love them. They look like ultra tight leather pants a la Olivia Newton John after her makeover at the end of Grease. You MUST wear these with black stilettos. And on the top? The skies the limit! I would suggest a fashion jacket over a basic tee. Wear an asymmetrical leather jacket like the previously mentioned Andrew Marc jacket, and you’ll be ready to dominate the world.

Giambattista Valli Shoes I love the color of these shoes. In the Vogue issue, they are worn by Jemma Kidd with a blue Peter Som dress and she looks fabulous. I want them so much but I’m not sure what I would wear them with. I love that the look like a normal stiletto but then have an extra little platform under the sole. I sort of wish they weren’t crocodile but I guess otherwise your feet would like like Tiffany’s boxes.

Dior Orange Silk-Ottoman Mini Bustier Cocktail Dress It seems like one the big colors for the Fall is tangerine and this is my pick for the best of that category. I love the length, the design of the bow on top and of course the details in the large sequin pieces showering down from the bust. Definitely something I would love to wear to a cocktail party. It’s available at Dior boutiques and costs $14,130. So AKA, it’s something I will never be wearing to a cocktail party, haha.

Three Piece Boot by Prada I am OBSESSED. This boot consists of three pieces – a bronze pump, spat, and lace up legging. Do you know what this means? You are getting three shoes in one! Feel like wearing pumps? Wear pumps. Feel like wearing a short boot? Add the spats. Feel like wearing a knee-length lacy up? Add the leggings. Love it!!! I need these. $1,800 at Prada boutiques.

Other Reasons To Pick Up This Issue: The cover girl is Kiera Knightley and there are some gorgeous photos of her in modern day clothing vs. the typical historical clothing from movies she tends to star in; there is an article about a yacht called “Guilty” owned by art collector Dakis Joannou that is so fucking awesome on the inside; an article on Miranda Brooks’ Long Island estate photographed by Eric Boman that is one of the most gorgeous places I have ever seen (the pool!); an article on Justin Timberlake where he looks absolutely flawless and gorgeous in a Givenchy trench.

Loves it!

Pontius

letters to my favorite ex-boyfriends/flings/crushes

Photo by alundpughe

Dear Matthew*,

You were the first boy I ever had a crush on! I never went through the “cooties” phase or any phrase where I believed boys to be gross. I was boy crazy from the beginning. You were in my preschool class and you looked adorable in your acid wash jean shorts and TMNT tee. And you had such a nice smile!

I don’t remember doing this but in a video of our preschool graduation, my dad zooms in on us while I fix your collar for you and fuss with your clothes to make sure you look fabulous for the most important days of our lives (at that point). We look just like a married couple. It’s adorable.

But after pre-school we went out separate ways and to this day I have never run into you again.

Dear Mark,

I think after two of our classmates became a “couple” at recess in second grade and had a public wedding ceremony, you and I wanted in on the action. I’m not sure how we ever paired up. I do remember I had to bring in a note to go home with you after school and our teacher laughed and teased us, which was awkward.

We went back to your house and locked ourselves in you room. We made rings out of rubber bands, put them on each other’s fingers, and kissed. We fell to the ground laughing at how ridiculous it all was and swore to never tell anyone about it. Of course we told all our friends the next day. And I’m telling everyone now.

Dear Jesse,

I spent most of fifth grade changing my mind over whether I had a crush on you or your best friend. I can’t even remember now who won out in the end, though I think in the end it was you. I remember my best friend and I sitting in the back of the bus with you and him on the way to a field trip thinking we were so cool – rambunctiously flirting and teasing each other. I also remember I found a caterpillar at recess one day that I named Jack Dawson and you threw him on the ground and smooshed him. This probably meant you liked me.

Dear Heath,

You were my first “boyfriend,” although this was in middle school so, make necessary adjustments to the definition of “boyfriend.” You were sweet and we had fun, though to be honest I remember very little of our time together. It has nothing to do with you, it’s my silly memory.

We went to the movies a lot on “dates” and were completely and utterly innocent in every way. We never kissed, hardly held hands, and were perfectly satisfied just enjoying the presence of each other (and the presents…we always seemed to get together around holidays…)

As with all middle school romances, we moved on from each other, thankful for the experience of our first starter relationship.

Dear David,

You were my first true and real love. What we had was hardly a conventional relationship. We bonded over a mutual hatred for my brother and somehow from hate blossomed love. It was always us against the world and this of course makes all relationships seem more intense than they actually are.

But I loved you and spent most days worrying about what we would have to do to end up together in the end – you put me through the ringer man. Things you did to torture my brother tortured me to a degree as well. My relationship with my family was like walking on a flaming tight rope the entire time we were together.

I always compared us to Romeo and Juliet – our love born from hate, our families tearing us apart, the only certainty about our future being our love. But in the end, I couldn’t throw away everything for you. I sometimes regret that and wonder how things would be now if we had stuck it out and stayed together. But, it doesn’t matter anymore. A part of me will always love you and I’m glad to know you are healthy and alive. And that’s all I need.

Dear Jonathan,

Ahh Jonathan. What can I say about you? You were my first college fling. I was never attracted to you and honestly always felt very guarded around you but you were obsessed with me to say the least – made apparently by the premature invitations of romantic get aways and the unconfirmed proposal I’m convinced was on your mind – and I ate that up. You taught me a harsh lesson – that I’m a lot more shallow than I thought I was. Aside from the fact that you were a sketchy character, voluntary spent the entirety of almost ever weekend at Graham Central Station, and had bugs in your house, I didn’t like you because of the way you looked. And it was something I couldn’t get past, and I feel bad for that fact.

But you were nice, surprisingly insightful, and you treated me well. I know you would be a good and reliable friend to anyone who would have you. You always told me how beautiful I was and how lucky you were. I won’t soon forget the many afternoons we spent napping in your bed or waking up with you the mornings after drunken nights at Graham, wondering what I was thinking.

Dear Jason,

There is not one part of you that fits the criteria of men I am attracted to. Frat boy – no thank you. Male chauvinistic – no thank you. Fat – no thank you. But for some reason I spent the majority of The Summer of The Haus harboring a crush for you. I loved stealing kisses from you.

But you also taught me a valuable lesson in that some men – you, specifically – are assholes. Plain and simple. You’re immature and honestly one of the biggest hypocrites I’ve ever met in my life. Maybe this makes me sound like a jilted lover, and so be it. But learn how to treat a lady and grow up and out of the frat house, and then we’ll talk.

Dear Steven,

I hated you from the moment I met you – literally – and I’m not sure when or why things changed. A part of me really wished they hadn’t. I formed the biggest, most awkward crush on you, and it was unexplainable. It was the first time I truly felt betrayed by myself, like I was going crazy. Not a good feeling. Part of me is glad because without the feelings I would’ve never fought so hard for your friendship, and I enjoy hanging out with you. It frustrates me because there is something I see in you that clearly no one else sees, not even you. And I wish there was some way for me to capitalize on that somehow. I love you in a completely unselfish way in that I want you to be happy, no matter what that means for me in relation to you. I was over the moon when I found out you had a girlfriend because I knew you were happy and someone was taking care of you. I’ve never felt that unselfishly about my love for someone, and I thank you for showing me that I can feel that way.

Dear Michael,

I have to admit that the very first night I met you, I thought to myself, “this guy is really cute. I definitely want to hook up with him tonight.” Of course, things don’t always work out the way you want them too and I ended up going home early with a friend.

Imagine my surprise when months later, after I had resigned to casual friendship with you, we hooked up. I often think back to those days and wonder what was going through my head. You must’ve thought I was such a floozy. I actually liked you, so it was silly of me to jump the gun so soon.

In the end it never progressed anywhere past friendship, you got a girlfriend, and I of course remain terminally single. Distance was never on my side, but I like to think if it had been, maybe there could’ve been something between us. You are an amazing person, and though we aren’t even close friends, you are one of my favorite people I have ever met. You are going to make some girl extremely happy, and of her I will always be jealous.

*Note: Names have been changed to protect the innocent. And even the not-so-innocent.

update from orlando

Hey everyone!

I know I haven’t been updating, specifically TILT and Mixtape Mondays but I’ve been in Orlando! I got here Tuesday, and I’ve been doing Orientation stuff for Jet Blue. I start actual classes tomorrow. Things have been a little crazy with the long days and getting to know everything and getting settled in at the hotel and such. So, this blog has been put on the back burner.

Things have been going great though! Orientation has been surprising not boring (except when people ask too many question. And contrary to popular belief, there are such things as dumb questions). I”ve really enjoyed meeting everyone and hearing about the company, and I’ve even gotten overly emotional (in a good way).

My favorite part: I have my room to myself, but there are 2 queen beds with like, a million pillows each. I put all the pillows on my one bed and I sleep in a sea of pillows every night. It’s pretty much the most delightful thing ever.

When I get back in the swing of things, I’m sure I’ll be updating! And when I’m not having to wake up at 6AM – yikes!

Love you all!!

Ponz